It's no secret to A's fans that their team often gets overlooked by the national media. With that in mind, we thought this would be a good time to recognize some players (and manager) worthy of award consideration.
Khris Davis – MVP
Davis is without a doubt the most underrated power hitter in baseball. All he's done is lead the Majors in home runs over the last three years. This season, Davis leads MLB with 39 homers, and his 103 runs batted in rank second. KD's next long ball will give him three straight seasons of 40-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI.
Davis will likely be penalized for his .250 batting average, and as a designated hitter, he doesn't play defense. But is there anyone in the American League more important to their lineup? Davis' mere presence in the batting order allows everyone else to see better pitches and be more productive. When he missed nine games in May with a groin strain, the A's went 3-6 and averaged less than two runs per game. That is not a coincidence.
Matt Chapman – MVP
Chapman is finally starting to gain national recognition for his incredible defensive ability, but not many fans and media members realize how dangerous he has become at the plate. Since the All-Star break, Chapman leads all of baseball with 29 extra base hits. For the season, he is slashing .282/.366/.526 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 52 RBI.
The advanced metrics are where Chapman's value can truly be seen. He ranks third among Major League position players with a 7.6 WAR, behind only Mookie Betts and Mike Trout. Chapman's 3.1 defensive WAR leads the Majors, as do his 26 defensive runs saved.
Blake Treinen – Cy Young Award
It is rare for a relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award, but Treinen certainly has the numbers to warrant serious consideration. The A's closer leads the Majors with a 0.95 ERA, and ranks third in the American League with 33 saves. Treinen has notched 89 strikeouts in just 66 innings, and his 3.2 WAR leads all relievers.
The A's are the only team in MLB that is undefeated when leading after seven innings, and Treinen is the main reason why. His ability to pitch multiple innings has been crucial, and he has helped turn Oakland's bullpen into one of the best in baseball.
Lou Trivino – Rookie of the Year
Despite some recent struggles, Trivino has been lights out for most of the season. The 26-year-old rookie is 8-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Trivino has struck out 67 batters in 63 innings, holding opponents to a .183 batting average. His 1.8 WAR is tied for sixth among AL relievers.
Like Treinen, Trivino has pitched multiple innings on numerous occasions, retiring key batters in high-pressure situations. He has helped the A's to a perfect 56-0 record when leading after seven innings. Trivino has also helped Oakland to an MLB-best 27-11 record in one-run games.
Bob Melvin – Manager of the Year
This one should be a no-brainer. Melvin has taken the team with the lowest payroll in MLB and led them to the fourth best record in the league. Even more impressive, he has found a way to overcome an almost unbelievable barrage of injuries to his starting rotation.
Injuries have forced Oakland to use 13 different starting pitchers, and 31 overall, tying a franchise record. They have had to use the disabled list 25 times, including 11 for starting pitchers, and that doesn't even count season-ending injuries to Jharel Cotton and A.J. Puk during Spring Training. Through all the adversity, Melvin has the A's on the brink of a postseason berth.
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